Combination sole-pressing and activating apparatus

ABSTRACT

A sole-pressing machine having right and left sole-pressing assemblies for attaching soles to lasted uppers, a conditioner having right and left supports movable into and out of confronting relation to a heating grid for activating adhesive preapplied to soles, said sole supports having an initial position withdrawn from confronting relation to the grid, and a control circuit containing a starting switch operable to initiate a cycle of operation by effecting movement of the right sole support into confronting relation to the grid while the left sole support remains out, and cycling switches associated with the treadles by means of which operation of the right and left solepressing assemblies are effected, operable following initiation of a cycle of operation alternately to effect movement of the left sole support into operative position in consonance with the operation of the right sole-pressing assembly and to effect movement of the right sole support into operative position in consonance with the operation of the left sole-pressing assembly.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Robert B. Dunlap Medway, Mass.

[22] Filed Apr. 16, 1970 [45] Patented Sept. 14, 1971 [73] AssigneeCompo Industries, Inc.

Waltham, Mass.

ACTIVATING APPARATUS 17 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl.... [51] Int. Cl [50] Field of Search PrimaryExaminer-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-43. Eugene Dacey ABSTRACT: Asole-pressing machine having right and left sole-pressing assemblies forattaching soles to lasted uppers, a conditioner having right and leftsupports movable into and out of confronting relation to a heating gridfor activating adhesive preapplied to soles, said sole supports havingan initial position withdrawn from confronting relation to the grid, anda control circuit containing a starting switch operable to initiate acycle of operation by effecting movement of the right sole support intoconfronting relation to the grid while the left sole support remainsout, and cycling switches associated with the treadles by means of whichoperation of the right and left sole-pressing assemblies are effected,operable following initiation of a cycle of operation alternately toeffect movement of the left sole support into operative position inconsonance with the operation of the right sole-pressing assembly and toeffect movement of the right sole support into operative position inconsonance with the operation of the left sole-pressing assembly.

PATENTED SEP] 4 l97| SHEET 1 BF 2 COMBINATION SOLE-PRESSING ANDACTIVATING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the art of shoemaking, it is very common to employ apparatus adjunctive tosole-pressing machines for the purpose of activating adhesive which hasbeen preapplied to the bottoms of lasted uppers and/or to the soleswhich are to be attached thereto. Such apparatus comprises in itsrudimentary form a heated box into which the shoe parts are thrust andremain until used and may hold a single part of a plurality of parts.More sophisticated apparatus for the is purpose provides for timing theheating and for supplying the conditioned parts at intervalscorresponding to the intervals between attaching operations. The objectsof this invention are to provide apparatus of the latter kind whichcomprises an improvement thereover, is of relatively simple constructionand is readily utilizable without alteration of the circuitry of thesolepressing machine.

SUMMARY As herein illustrated, the invention comprises, in combination,a sole-pressing machine having right and left solepressing assemblies anactivator having right and left sole supports adapted to be moved intoand out of operative relation with respect to a heated grid, and acontrol circuit for synchronizing the operation of the sole press andthe activator so that while a sole and lasted upper are being joined onthe right-hand station of the press, the sole on the sole support at theleft-hand side of the activator is conditioned and a fresh sole isplaced on the right-hand support for conditioning and while a sole andlasted upper are being joined on the left-hand station of the press, thesole on the sole support at the righthand side of the activator is beingconditioned and a fresh sole is placed on the sole support at theleft-hand side of the activator. More especially, the control embodies acontrol circuit interconnecting the sole press and activator comprisinga starting switch for initiating operation to present the sole on theright-hand sole support to the activator for activation of the adhesivethereon and then retract it therefrom for mounting together with anupper on the right-hand press of the solepressing machine, a right-handtreadle for effecting operation of the right-hand press upon which theupper and sole are placed and simultaneously actuating a cycling switchfor effecting movement of the left-hand sole support to present a soleon the lefthand sole support to the activator for activation of theadhesive thereon while the righthand press applies attaching pressure tothe sole and upper mounted thereon and then retracts it for mountingtogether with an upper on the left-hand press, and a left-hand treadlefor effecting operation of the left-hand press and simultaneouslyactuating a cycling switch for effecting movement of the right-hand solesupport to present the sole on the right-hand sole support to theactivator. Following initiation of the cycling, the successiveoperations are performed by alternate operation of the right and lefttreadles of the sole press. According to the invention, the activatorcomprises a cabinet in which there is mounted a heating grid andsupports for soles to be treated there being two supports alternatelyoperable to support a sole in the cabinet adjacent the heating grid foractivation of the adhesive thereon and thereafter to withdraw it fromthe cabinet for mounting together with a lasted upper on the sole press.There is a second heating grid in the cabinet for supporting lasteduppers for activating the adhesive thereon simultaneously with that onthe soles. in the preferred form the cabinet has a from opening and thesole supports are mounted within the cabinet for movement from withinthrough the front opening. The sole supports are adjustable heightwiserelative to the heating grid. The second heating grid is fixed withrespect to the cabinet but has articulated parts adapted to be adjustedrelative to each other to conform to the bottom of flat or high-archedshoes. The second grid also embodies independently adjustable heatingunits for supplying heat, respectively, to the forepart, arch and heelends of lasted uppers placed on the grid.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference tothe accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a two-station sole press and a twostationactivator interconnected for synchronous operation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the activator;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the upper part of the activator;and

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram for effecting synchronization of the solepress and activator.

The sole press herein illustrated is disclosed in US. Pat. No. 2,866,987and comprises a base 10 which supports at each of two stations arrangedside by side a pad box 12 upon which an assembly comprising a lastedupper and a sole are adapted to be placed bottom down, and a holddown 14mounted above the pad box on a post 16 situated between the stations.The pad boxes are arranged to be raised and lowered relative to theholddown 14 to permit placing the assemblies on the pad boxes beneaththem and to bring them up into clamping engagement with the holddownwhereupon attaching pressure is applied by inflating pad boxes. Thestation operated in turn by treadles TTrespectively. The treadlescontrol valves in a fluid circuit for raising and lowering the pad boxesand/or supplying pressure to the interiors of the pad boxes for theattaching operation. The details of the construction and operation ofthe aforesaid machine are completely available by reference to theaforesaid patent.

The activator 18 comprises a sheet metal cabinet 20 (FIGS.

1 and 3) of rectangular cross section and has a base 22, verticallydisposed, spaced parallel sidewalls 24 and a top wall 26. Within thecabinet near the top there is a horizontally disposed partition 28 whichdivides the cabinet into an upper chamber 30 having at its bottom thepartition 28 and a lower chamber 32 having at its top the partition 28.A pair of sole supporting members 3434 are mounted in the lower chamber,each comprising a relatively flat tray 36 secured to the upper end of arod 38 which is telescopically mounted in the upper end of a hollow post40, the lower end of which is pivotally mounted by means of a pin 42 ona bracket 44 fixed to the base 22. A threaded screw 46 provides foradjusting rod 38 longitudinally within the post 40. The sole supports asthus constructed are adapted to be moved from vertical positions, asshown in doc and dash lines, within the cabinet to lateral positionsthrough a side opening 48, in which position the trays 3636 are inclinedforwardly and downwardly from the cabinet.

Within the cabinet on he underside of the partition 28 there is mounteda heating grid 49 comprised of a plurality of spaced parallel resistancerods which are adapted to provide radiant heat which is directeddownwardly by a reflector situated above the rods. By adjusting theheightwise position of the trays 36-36 relative to the heating grid 49,the intensity of the heat applied to soles resting on the trays may bevaried according to the kind of adhesive employed and/or the rate ofheating desired. To prevent the soles from sliding off the trays a guard50 is secured to the distal end of each.

Movement of the sole supporting members 34 into and out of the cabinetis provided for by air cylinders 52 pivotally connected by means of pins54 to brackets 56 secured to the base. Rods 58 extending from theopposite ends of the cylinders are pivotally connected by pins 60 toblocks secured to the posts 40. Operating pressure is supplied to thecylinders 52 by means of conductors 62.

A single tray 64 is mounted in the upper compartment 30 above thepartition 28 for supporting lasted uppers for activation of adhesivepreapplied thereto. Access to the grid 64 is provided through a topopening 66 and a front opening 68 (FIG. 2). The tray 64 comprises parts70 and 72 hinged to each other by a pin 73 so as to be adjustablerelative to each other to provide on the one hand a substantially flatstructure for flat bottom shoes and on the other an angular structurefor high heel shoes. Adjustment is effected by extending the hinge pin73 at opposite ends through vertical slots 76 in the walls of thecabinet and by threading knobs 77 onto the protruding ends which, byengagement with walls, will hold the hinge pin at a selected heightwiseposition The distal ends of the parts are pivotally supported inhorizontal slots 79 in the sidewalls to permit the aforesaid adjustment.The parts 70 and 72 are made up of transversely extending, spacedparallel rods and heating grids, of which there are three-76, 77.5 and78, and are attached to the underside of the grid to provide forselected heating of the heel, shank and forepart areas at the bottom ofa lasted upper placed on the grid.

A table 80 is attached to the front wall below the front opening 48 toprovide for stacking lasted uppers and soles and below the table thereis a control box 82 provided with a panel 84 on which there are mountedswitches for effecting operation of the apparatus.

Ordinarily in the use of the sole-pressing machine the operator placesan assembly comprising an outsole and lasted upper to which adhesive hasjust been applied or preapplied and just actuated on the pad boss at theright side of the machine and then depresses the treadle at the rightside marked Tto apply pressure to the assembly to attach the sole to theupper. While the pressure is being applied to the assembly at the rightside of the machine the operator assembles an outsole and lasted upperon the left-hand pad box and then depresses the treadle marked T". Theoperations are timed so that the attaching operation is consummated inapproximately the time required to mount an assembly and so that theoperator alternately removes a finished shoe and mounts another assemblyin its place while the assembly at the other station is under pressure.

In accordance with this invention, foregoing procedure is expedited bysynchronizing operation of the activator 18 with the operation of thesole press 10 so that there will always be pairs of lasted uppers andsoles available for mounting in the sole-pressing machine for theattaching operation.

This achieved herein by means of a control circuit C comprising aheating circuit Cand a control circuit C, as shown in FIG. 4, connectedto a 220-volt 60-cycle power source by a main switch S. A transformerTRsteps the voltage down to the control circuit C from 220 volts to 1 10volts.

In the heating circuit C there are three pairs of resistors r1, r2 andr3, which comprise the grid 49, and three pairs of resistors r4, r andr6, which comprise the grid 64. The resistors r1, r2 and r3 areconnected in the circuit by contacts Rcl, Rc2 and RC3 which are adaptedto be closed by energization of a relay R embodied in an inputcontroller INP having an actuating button so labeled on the panel 84 theresistors r4, r5 and r6 are energized by input controllers [NP 5 [NP andlNP having actuating buttons so labeled on the panel 84. The controllerslNP, INP lNP and lNP are temperature controllers which provide formaintaining a predetermined temperature level in the resistor units andthe controls lNP, INF, lNl" and lNPare individually adjustable to enableselectively heating the resistor units in the tray 64 for the purpose ofproviding different temperatures at different parts of the grid.

The control circuit C contains a switch FS which is located below thetreadle T and when closed energizes a relay CR which in turn closescontacts CRlA, CRIB thereby starting a timing motor TM and energizingsolenoid valves VS and VS. The valve VS supplies air to one of thecylinders 52 to move the tray at the right side into the cabinet. Whenthe timing motor TM times out relay CRis deenergized, contacts CRlA andCRlB open and the solenoid valves VS and VS reverse so that the tray 36at the right side is moved out of the cabinet. Similarly, switch FS islocated below the treadle T and when closed energizes relay CR which inturn closes contacts CRZA, CR2B thereby starting a timer motor TM andenergizing solenoid valves VS and VS Valve VS supplies air to the othercylinder 52 to move the tray 36 at the left side into the cabinet. Whenthe timing motor TM times out the relay CR is deenergized, contacts CR2Aand ClRZB open and the solenoid valves VS and VS reverse so that thetray 36 at the left side is moved out of the cabinet. There are threepushbutton switches in the circuit in addition to the switches FS andF5, to wit, PB, PB and Pb. 1

The switch PB when open disconnects the entire controls circuit C fromthe source of power and when opened both trays 36-36 extend forwardlyfrom the interior of the cabinet from the front opening (FIG. 2).Toprepare the apparatus for operation the switches lNP, lNP, INF and lNPare closed.

To start an operating cycle switch PB is closed and since switch PB isin parallel with switch FS, it causes the tray 36 at the right side tomove into the cabinet. The cycle is initiated in this way rather than bydepressing the foot switch T because there are no shoes on the press atthis time, and it is undesirable to have the press operate without shoespresent thcreon. When the timing motor TM times out, the right-hand traymoves out of the activator cabinet whereupon the operator removes thesole from the tray and the mating lasted upper from the tray 64,assembles them on the right-hand press and then depresses the foottreadle T. This initiates operation of the right-hand press andsimultaneously closes switch FS which causes the tray 36 at the leftside to move into the cabinet. While waiting for the adhesive to becomeactivated, the operator places a fresh sole and lasted upper on theright tray 32 and right side of the tray 64 respectively. When the timermotor T times out, the left-hand tray 36 moves out of the cabinet andthe operator removes thesole from the tray and the mating lasted upperfrom the tray 64, assembles them on the left-hand press and depressesthe foot treadle T thereby initiating operation of the left-hand press.Depression of the treadle T effects movement of the right-hand tray intothe cabinet. From this point on the operator continues the operation byalternately depressing treadles T and T The operating cycle as relatedabove may be initiated by starting with switch PB instead of switch PBwhich will merely reverse the sequence of operation.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for applying soles to lasted uppers comprising atwo-station sole press, a two-station activator and a control circuitfor synchronizing operation of the stations of the press and theactivator, said control circuit embodying a starting switch operable toeffect operation of one of the activators to move a sole into a positionfor activation of the adhesive thereon and at the end of a predeterminedtime to move it from said position for mounting with a lasted upper onone station of the sole press, a first treadle operable concomitantly toactuate said one station of the sole press and to effect operation ofthe other of the activators to move a sole into position for activationof adhesive there and at the end of a predetermined time to move it fromthe said position for mounting together with a lasted upper on the otherstation of the sole press, and a second treadle operable concomitantlyto actuate said other station of the sole press and effect operation ofthe one of the activators to move a sole into position for activation ofthe adhesive thereon and at the end of a predetermined time to move itfrom said position, said first and second treadles being operablethereafter alternately to operate said one station of the sole press andsaid other activator, and said other station of the press and said oneactivator.

2. Apparatus for applying soles to lasted uppers comprising atwo-station sole press and a two-station activator, said activatorembodying a fixed heating grid and tow sole supports mounted formovement alternately from a lateral position permitting placing of solesthereon to an operative position adjacent the grid for activation of theadhesive on said soles, a starting switch for effecting movement of onesole support to operative position and from operative position, a firsttreadle for effecting operation of one of the stations of the sole pressand simultaneously efiecting movement of the other sole support tooperative position and from operative position, and a second treadle foreffecting operation of the other station of the sole press andsimultaneously effecting movement of the one sole support to operativeposition and from operative position, said first and second treadlesbeing operable thereafter alternately to effect operation of the onestation and the other support and the other station and the one supportrespectively.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there are two startingswitches alternately usable to initate operation of the apparatus withthe sole support at the right side on which the right sole is mounted,or with the sole support at the left side on which the left sole ismounted.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable sole supports aredesigned to receive and hold precoated right and left soles with theirprecoated surfaces parallel to the heating grid and wherein there is afixed support above the movable supports designed to receive and holdthe right and left lasted uppers to which the right and left soles areto be attached in the press.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the fixed support is alsoheated for activating adhesive preapplicd to the bottoms of the lasteduppers.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, comprising resistance heating meanssupported beneath the fixed support, and means in the circuit forselectively controlling the amount of heat supplied to differentportions of the resistance heating means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the resistance heating meansembodies three units arranged to supply heat to areas of the supportwhich would be overlain by the forepart, shank and heel end of lasteduppers resting on the support.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the activator comprises acabinet having an opening at one side, said heating grid being mountedin the cabinet above the side opening in a horizontal position, saidsole supports comprising substantially flat trays, posts pivotallymounted at their lower ends in the cabinet, mounting at their upper endssaid trays in spaced parallel relation to the heating grid, andpneumatic means connected to the posts operable to swing the posts abouttheir pivots through said side opening to a position exteriorly of thecabinet in which the trays are inclined downwardly relative to the topof the cabinet.

9. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, the activator comprises acabinet having an opening at one side, the movable sole supports aremounted within the cabinet for movement from within the cabinet throughthe side opening, and there are motors supported in the cabinetconnected to the movable sole supports and to the control circuit bymeans of which the sole supports are movable independently of each otherfrom within the cabinet through the side opening, and means in thecontrol circuit for causing said motors to move both said sole supportsfrom the cabinet through the side opening preparatory to commencing anysequence of operations.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a flat table is mounted onthecabinet in a horizontal position below the front opening and beneaththe exterior positions of the trays.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tip of the cabinetcontains an opening and a fixed tray is mounted thereon above themovable trays, said fixed tray being adapted to support a pair of lasteduppers for activation of adhesive on the bottom surfaces thereof.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein there is a partitionsituated between the fixed and movable trays and there is resistanceheating means supported beneath the fixed tray for effecting activationof the adhesive on lasted uppers resting on the fixed tray.

13. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fixed tray issubstantially flat.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second fixed tray hasflat downwardly converging portions adapted to accommodate the bottom ofan upper having a high heel.

15. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fixed tray hasarticulated portions adjustable to adapt to the contour of the bottom ofthe lasted upper.

16. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a hinge pm connecting thearticulated portions of the tray is supported at its ends in thesidewalls of the cabinet for heightwise adjustment and the distal endsof the portions are pivotally supported for horizontal displacementrelative to the hinge pin.

17. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the trays are fixed tospindles telescopically mounted in the upper ends of the posts and areadjustable lengthwise therein.

1. Apparatus for applying soles to lasted uppers comprising atwo-station sole press, a two-station activator and a control circuitfor synchronizing operation of the stations of the press and theactivator, said control circuit embodying a starting switch operable toeffect operation of one of the activators to move a sole into a positionfor activation of the adhesive thereon and at the end of a predeterminedtime to move it from said position for mounting with a lasted upper onone station of the sole press, a first treadle operable concomitantly toactuate said one station of the sole press and to effect operation ofthe other of the activators to move a sole into position for activationof adhesive there and at the end of a predetermined time to move it fromthe said position for mounting together with a lasted upper on the otherstation of the sole press, and a second treadle operable concomitantlyto actuate said other station of the sole press and effect operation ofthe one of the activators to move a sole into position for activation ofthe adhesive thereon and at the end of a predetermined time to move itfrom said position, said first and second treadles being operablethereafter alternately to operate said one station of the sole press andsaid other activator, and said other station of the press and said oneactivator.
 2. Apparatus for applying soles to lasted uppers comprising atwo-station sole press and a two-station activator, said activatorembodying a fixed heating grid and tow sole supports mounted formovement alternately from a lateral position permitting placing of solesthereon to an operative position adjacent the grid for activation of theadhesive on said soles, a starting switch for effecting movement of onesole support to operative position and from operative position, a firsttreadle for effecting operation of one of the stations of the sole pressand simultaneously effecting movement of the other sole support tooperative position and from operative position, and a second treadle foreffecting operation of the other station of the sole press andsimultaneously effecting movement of the one sole support to operativeposition and from operative position, said first and second treadlesbeing operable thereafter alternately to effect operation of the onestation and the other support and the other station and the one supportrespectively.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein there are twostarting switches alternately usable to initate operation of theapparatus with the sole support at the right side on which the rightsole is mounted, or with the sole support at the left side on which theleft sole is mounted.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein themovable sole supports are designed to receive and hold precoated rightand left soles with their precoated surfaces parallel to the heatiNggrid and wherein there is a fixed support above the movable supportsdesigned to receive and hold the right and left lasted uppers to whichthe right and left soles are to be attached in the press.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the fixed support is also heated foractivating adhesive preapplied to the bottoms of the lasted uppers. 6.Apparatus according to claim 4, comprising resistance heating meanssupported beneath the fixed support, and means in the circuit forselectively controlling the amount of heat supplied to differentportions of the resistance heating means.
 7. Apparatus according toclaim 6, wherein the resistance heating means embodies three unitsarranged to supply heat to areas of the support which would be overlainby the forepart, shank and heel end of lasted uppers resting on thesupport.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the activatorcomprises a cabinet having an opening at one side, said heating gridbeing mounted in the cabinet above the side opening in a horizontalposition, said sole supports comprising substantially flat trays, postspivotally mounted at their lower ends in the cabinet, mounting at theirupper ends said trays in spaced parallel relation to the heating grid,and pneumatic means connected to the posts operable to swing the postsabout their pivots through said side opening to a position exteriorly ofthe cabinet in which the trays are inclined downwardly relative to thetop of the cabinet.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, theactivator comprises a cabinet having an opening at one side, the movablesole supports are mounted within the cabinet for movement from withinthe cabinet through the side opening, and there are motors supported inthe cabinet connected to the movable sole supports and to the controlcircuit by means of which the sole supports are movable independently ofeach other from within the cabinet through the side opening, and meansin the control circuit for causing said motors to move both said solesupports from the cabinet through the side opening preparatory tocommencing any sequence of operations.
 10. Apparatus according to claim8, wherein a flat table is mounted on the cabinet in a horizontalposition below the front opening and beneath the exterior positions ofthe trays.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the tip of thecabinet contains an opening and a fixed tray is mounted thereon abovethe movable trays, said fixed tray being adapted to support a pair oflasted uppers for activation of adhesive on the bottom surfaces thereof.12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein there is a partitionsituated between the fixed and movable trays and there is resistanceheating means supported beneath the fixed tray for effecting activationof the adhesive on lasted uppers resting on the fixed tray. 13.Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said fixed tray is substantiallyflat.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said second fixed trayhas flat downwardly converging portions adapted to accommodate thebottom of an upper having a high heel.
 15. Apparatus according to claim8, wherein said fixed tray has articulated portions adjustable to adaptto the contour of the bottom of the lasted upper.
 16. Apparatusaccording to claim 8, wherein a hinge pin connecting the articulatedportions of the tray is supported at its ends in the sidewalls of thecabinet for heightwise adjustment and the distal ends of the portionsare pivotally supported for horizontal displacement relative to thehinge pin.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the trays arefixed to spindles telescopically mounted in the upper ends of the postsand are adjustable lengthwise therein.